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Label: Self-Released - Rating:
Why is it most of the good music keeps coming from New York? Do we automatically take groups from there more seriously because of all the history that’s come out of that town, or are they so progressive when it comes to music that we can’t help but claim new bands ‘the next best thing?'
I’m not sure, but Hollands and their new EP ‘Mother,’ have caught my attention. They’re new EP combines elements of folk, punk, and rock flawlessly but are still experimental enough to catch your ear in the six-song album that spans at a comfortable 26 minutes long.
Virtually unknown until a couple months ago, besides the underground fans of course, Hollands (John-Paul Norpoth and girlfriend violinist Jannina Barefield), have been playing non stop before and after their last EP, ‘Faces’ which was released in the latter part of last year. The two were actually in separate bands before they came together. (Jannina had been listening to John’s band for a while so the transition was pretty easy for her).
Most of the songs written on the new album are composed in John’s hometown of Stony Brook, New York, where he took a break from working construction in NY with his father to regain his focus on what he was doing with his life/music. At home he went on to complete the rough draft of ‘Mother’ with nothing more than a baby grand piano, a laptop, and a lot of mics.
The album opens with their main single “Air Conditioned Heart”, a poppy indie rockers dream. It’s packed with everything. What about a bit of floating twinkling in the background followed by a power chord and a nice rhythm guitar? Yup. It’s there. Sexual Lyrics? “Just suck my drentched lips, now call me a son of a bitch”, John moans. Add some pretty catchy drums, eerie effects, a mini guitar solo at the end of the song, and you’ve got the perfect hit single. Definitely the best track on the EP.
John’s baby piano comes into play on the next track, “Cheerio!”. A slow balled and his singing opens up the track. Guitar, a slow bass, and drums shortly follow hand in hand with each other and leads the rest of the track until its dreamlike end.
‘Lungs of Steel’ is another favorite of mine. Anytime you have a set of disco drums leading the track in the background with layered lo-fi guitars, and violin you’ll be sure to melt my heart, it works every time. Ask anyone who knows me.
I recommend this album to anyone. It’s a really put together nicely and is short enough to listen to over and over again without really getting sick of it. Maybe one of the most underrated EP’s of the year? Might be.
Like Hollands? Check out: Girls in Trouble, Inner Banks
